Dial illuminating means for telephones



Nov. 27, 1934. E. H. SCHMiTT 1,982,457

DIAL ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR TELEPHONES Filed Feb. 2, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheetl 65 44 jig]. 5

Mm gg Qm E. H. SCHMITT DIAL ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR TELEPHONES 1951 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb.

mli M Nov. 27, 1934.

Patented Nov. 27, 1934 'DIAL ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR TELEPHONES Edwin H.Schmitt, Cincinnati, Ohio Application February 2, 1931, Serial No.512,947

5 Claims.

It is the object of my invention to provide novel means whereby uponraising the receiver 01' a dial telephone instrument a light isautomatically lit for illuminating the dial, so that a person may seeand operate the dial even it the telephone instrument is in an otherwisedark location or in a dark alcove, or ii the instrument is used in thenight time in the absence oi! other sufficient light.

It is the object of my invention, further, to provide novel illuminatingmeans for the purpose mentioned which may be mounted on the stand oi thetelephone instrumentand have electrical connection ior instance with thehouse wiring distinct and entirely dissociated from the wiring and theelectric connections of the telephone; and, further, to provide novelmeans whereby the light of my improved device may be automatically litupon the raising of the receiver when using the instrument andautomatically extinguished when the receiver is replaced upon theinstrument.

The invention will be further readily understood irom the followingdescription and claims and from the drawings, in which latter:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a dial telephone instrument having myinvention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, partly in section on the line2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of my improved device, takenon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, illustrating the switch mechanism ofmy improved device, taken in the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, andpartly broken away.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view, taken in the plane of the line 5-5 ofFig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of my improved device, taken in theplane oi.the irregular line 6-6 of Fig. 3, and partly broken away.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section of my improved device in connection with thetelephone instrument, taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. l, and partly brokenaway, and showing an additional contact arm ior use with a so-calledFrench telephone intrument or hand telephone set.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a French telephone instrument having myimproved device applied thereto.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the same; and,

Fig. 10 is a detail view showing my improved device applied to a regulartelephone instrument in full lines, partly in section on the line 2--201' Fig. l, and showing the frame 01 the receiver of a French telephoneinstrument and conreceiver, indicated at 18, is supported when not inuse. The arm 14 is therefore a weighted arm. The telephone dial is shownat 19 on the base of the telephone stand. It comprises a rotatable disk20 arranged to be manipulated in suitable manner for initiating electricconnections when the user desires to call his own number forcommunication with the party with whom he desires to speak.

In using the dial, the receiver 18 is first removed from the hook 17,whereby the arm or support 14 automatically rises for making the properelectrical connections in the telephone preparatory to use of the diai.The object oi the present invention is to provide illuminating meansarranged to automatically illuminate the dial so that a person cancorrectly manipulate the dial.

I have shown these means as an attachment arranged to be secured to thetelephone instrument, and having electrical connections distinct andapart from the electrical connections of the telephone instrument, andprovided with a contact part arranged to be operated by the weight ofthe receiver for extinguishing the light and to automatically rise whenthe receiver is raised for using the telephone.

A supporting casing 25 has a lamp compartment 26 and a switchcompartment 27. A clamp 28 is fixed to the casing and is received aboutthe post 13 of the telephone instrument. This clamp may be receivedabout the post and have rear flanges 29 connected by a clamp screw 30and clamp nut 31 threaded thereto. The clamp is arranged to beadiustably placed in such position on the telephone instrument as to bein correct position for automatic actuation of the switch by means ofthe receiver.

A suitable lamp socket 34 is secured in the lamp compartment. The socketis arranged to receive the plug 35 of an electric light bulb 36. Thesocket and plug may be of any suitable or usual construction. The lampcompartment is provided with an opening 37 presented downwardly, throughwhich the rays of light from the bulb illuminate the dial. A telephonedirectory and suitable memorandum pad may also be illuminated thereby.The lamp compartment is pro- Bil.

vided with a releasable end 38 for forming said compartment open endedfor insertion or removal .of the bulb in affixing or renewing the bulb.

There is an electric switch 41 in the switch box. This switch isnormally open. The switch contains a movable part 42 and complementarystatlonary parts 43 between which the movable part is arranged to bereceived for closing the electric circuit for the lamp bulb. It isdesirable that the opening and closing of the switch shall take placewith a snap movement to minimize arcing.

The switch exemplified comprises the contact parts 43, which are shownas downwardly bent ends of electric conducting strips 44 havinglaterally extending portions 45 and downwardly extending portions 46. AU-irame 47 has feet 48 fixed to an insulating block 49 by screws 50.This frame has openings 51 at its sides through which the laterallyextending portions 45 are received. Insulating plates 52 span theseopenings and are fixed to the walls of the openings, as by rivets 53.

U-clips 55 have stems 56 extending therefrom received through holes inthe downwardly extending portions 46 and the insulating plates 52, thedownwardly extending portion and the insulating plate being locatedbetween shoulders 57 at the outer end of the stem, the inner end of thestem being upset upon the insulating plate as shown at 58. r

The electric conducting wires 61, 62, are secured to said lJ-clips underthe heads of screws 63 threaded to said U-clips. The U-frame 47comprises an upper cross-piece 64 between which and the laterallyextending portions 45 an insulating plate 65 is located.Thisconstruction insulates the switch contacts 43 and the wiring fromthe supporting means for the switch contacts.

The wires 61, 62, are electrically insulated beyond their connectionswith the lJ-clips and pass through holes 66, 67, in the insulating block49 and through holes in the partition 68 between the lamp compartmentand the switch compartment respectively to the socket 34 and a suitablesource of electric power, the wire 61 and a wire 69 forming a cable 70passing through an insulating ferrule 71 to a suitable plug 72 arrangedto be connected with any suitable socket of house wiring.

The contact part 42 is mounted on and insulated from a lever 75. (Figs.4 and 6). It is shown as a U-shaped clip insulated from the lever by anelectric insulating lining '16 and tube 77, through which a rivet 78securing the parts together passes. The swinging end of the contact armnormally rests on the insulating block 49 when the switch is open.

The lever has a fork 81 at its inner end received in a fork 82 of alever 83, the fork ends being connected by a pivot pin 84 for pivotingsaid levers together. (Figs. 3 and 7).

Stands 86 are fixed to the insulating block 49 and have bearings 87, apivot pin 88 being located in said bearings and the fork 82 for pivotingthe lever 83 to the insulating block. These stands are provided withlugs 89. Spiral springs 90 have one of their. ends connected to theselugs, the other ends of these springs being connected with a cross pin91 fixed to the lever 75.

The lever 83 is provided with a contact arm 92 arranged to be depressedby the weight of the receiver of the telephone instrument. The lever 83is automatically urged for raising its contact arm, as by means of aspring 95 having a coil 96 about the pivot pin 88, one end of the springhaving a hook 97 about one of the edges of the stand 86 for anchoringsaid end of the spring, the other end of the spring having a hook 98under the lever 83 for normally raising the outer end of the lever. Thespring is shown as a duplex spring.

These parts are arranged to impart a snap movement to the lever 75 andthe electric contact 42 thereon.

Movement of the axis of the pivot 84 past the axes of the helicalsprings causes a snap movement of the lever 75 in opposite directionsfor opening and closing the switch 41 with a snap movement.

The lever 83 has the contact arm 92 thereon arranged to be depressed bythe weight of the receiver. It is shown extending through a slot 93 inthe side wall 94 of the cover 103 of the switch compartment. This coverhas slip connection at 104 with the insulating block 49 and may beremoved for inspection and attention to the switch parts and theiractuating mechanism and readily replaced. It has an insulating lining105. The contact arm 92 is provided with a bent portion 106 releasablysecured to the lever 83 by screws 107 and nuts 108.

If desired, my attachment may be attached to a so-called Frenchtelephone instrument or hand telephone set as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 andindicated in Fig. 10. Such an instrument 111 comprises a base 112 fromwhich a post 113 extends upwardly, the post being provided with books117 on which the bar 114 of the receiver head 118 is located. The barforms a support for the receiver head at one of its ends and has atransmitting head 121 at its other end. When the bar is placed on thehooks it actuates a movable part 122 for neutralizing certain of theelectric connections in the instrument, which are placed in connectingrelation when the receiver bar is raised.

My improved attachment is arranged to be applied to such a Frenchtelephone instrument by having its clamping arms 28 received about andclamped to the post 113 by the clamping screw 30 received through theflanges 29 of said arms and the clamping nut 31 threaded to said screw.

The dial is represented at 119, and as in the case of the regulartelephone instrument, comprises a rotatable disk arranged to be rotatedby the user for calling his own number.

When using my improved device on a French telephone instrument, acontact arm 192 is provided and connected with the lever 83, as by providing said contact arm with a bent portion 196 connected with the lever83 by the clamp screws 107 and clamp nuts 108. The bent portion 196extends through a slot 193 in the end wall 194 of the cover 94 of theswitch compartment.

When the head bar 114 is raised, the contact arm rises automatically foroscillating the lever 83 on its pivot and thereby actuating the lever 75with a snap movement. When the head bar is replaced upon the hooks 117,it contacts the contact arm 192 which is depressed by the weight of thebar for automatically moving the levers in I opposite directions andopening the switch 41 with a snap movement.

The relative positions of the contact arms 92 and 192 respectively, forbeing depressed by the supports of the receiving heads of the telephone.

telephone instrument or on a French telephone instrument by merelysubstituting one of said contact arms for the other.

In my improved device lighting of the electric light and itsextinguishment are entirely automatic and the source of electricity forilluminating the bulb is distinct and apart from all the electricalconnections of the telephone so as not to interfere with the latter, andin my improved device, further, the levers including their contact armsand all their operating parts are entirely outside of the telephoneinstrument so as not to interfere with any of the electric connec-'tions or operation of the latter.

My improved device takes advantage of the weight of the receiver and itssupport for automatically extinguishing the light so as to saveelectricity and disconnect the current when the user replaces thereceiver on the telephone instrument, the weight of the receiver beingsumcient to cause depressing movement 0! the contact arm of my improveddevice without detriment to the functioning of the telephone.

The light of my improved device is automatically lit upon raising thereceiver by the user.

so as to illuminate the dial.

My improved device is simple, is economically made, has no detrimentaleffect upon the usual operation oi the telephone, and is automatic inits functioning.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new, and desireto. secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a dialtelephone instrument, comprising a post, a receiver to be lifted whenusing the instrument, and a support for the latter, of an attachmentcomprising a switch corn partment and a bulb compartment for an electriclight bulb, an electric light bulb in said bulb compartment, an electricswitch in said switch compartment for said bulb, a pair of levers insaid switch compartment, said levers having a pivot between them, one ofsaid levers having a pivot pivoting it to said switch compartment, theother of said levers having a contact part for closing said switch, ahelical spring having its respective ends connected respectively withsaid other of said levers and a part distanced therefrom at therespective sides oi said first-named pivot and arranged to move saidother of said levers with a snap movement when said spring crosses theaxis 01 said first-named pivot, said one of said levers comprising acontact arm depressed by the weight of said receiver and extendingoutside said switch compartment, said levers located wholly outside saidinstrument, and means acting on said one of said levers automaticallyraising said contact arm for moving said other of said levers with asnap movement for closing said electric switch and illuminating saidbulb upon raising said receiver, and the weight of said receiver whenreplacing said receiver on its support depressing said contact arm forcausing snap movement of said other of said levers and snap opening ofsaid switch for darkening said bulb.

2. A dial illuminating device for attachment to a telephoneinstrument-having a receiver, a movable receiver supporting element anda vertical standard, said illuminating device comprising connectedelongated switch and lamp housings disposed in parallel relationship, anelectrical lamp in the lamp housing, an electrical switch in the switchhousing and'comprising a pair of levers, said levers having a pivotbetween them, one of said levers having a pivot pivoting it to saidswitch housing, the other of said levers having a contact part forclosing said switch, a spring having its respective ends connectedrespectively with said other of said levers and a part distancedtherefrom at the respective sides of said firstnamed pivot and arrangedto move said other of said levers with a snap movement when said springcrosses the axis of said first-named pivot, said one of said leverscomprising a contact arm depressed by the weight of the receiver andextending outside said switch housing, said levers located whollyoutside said instrument, means acting on said one of said leversautomatically raising said contact arm for moving said other of saidlevers with a snap movement for closing said electrical switch andilluminating said bulb upon raising said receiver, the weight of saidreceiver when replacing said receiver on its support depressing saidcontact arm for causing snap movement of said other of said levers andsnap opening of said switch for darkening said bulb, and means forattaching the housings to the standard oi the telephone in horizontalposition.

3. A dial illuminating device for attachment to various types oftelephone instruments having a receiver, a movable receiver supportingelement and a verticalstandard, said illuminating device comprising anapertured elongated housing one aperture being in a side and anotherbeing in the end of said housing, an electrical switch in the housing, amovable lever associated with the switch said lever being provided withmeans for supporting an actuating arm extendable through either or theaforesaid apertures to a position adiacent to the receiver supportingelement and adapted for movement with said receiver supporting elementfor actuation of the switch, a lamp supported by the elongated housing,an electrical circuit including switch and the lamp, and a clamp on thehousing for attachment of the device in a horizontal position to thevertical standard of both the hand set and standard desk types oftelephone instruments.

4. A dial illuminating device for attachment to various types oitelephone instruments having a receiver, a movable receiver supportingelement and a vertical standard, said illuminating device comprising anelongated lamp housing, an apertured elongated switch housing disposedabove and in parallelism with the lamp housing and one aperture of whichis in a side wall and another in an end wall of the switch housing, anelectrical switch in the switch housing, a movable lever associated withthe switch said lever being provided with means for supporting anactuating arm extendable through either of the aforesaid apertures to aposition adjacent to the receiver supporting element and adapted formovement with said receiver supporting element for actuation of theswitch, a lamp supported in the lamp housing, an electrical circuitincluding the switch and the lamp, and a clamp on one of the housingsback of the elongated housing, the major axis of clamp being of areduced width such as permits attachment thereof to the short standard01' a 5 hand set telephone and to the long standard of a desk typetelephone, with the axis of the elongated housing thereby disposedhorizontally intermediate the upper and lower limits of the hand setinstrument when applied thereto, a lamp the lamp including a memberadapted to be actuated upon removal of the telephone receiver from EDWINH. SCHMI'IT.

the receiver support.

in the housing, and electrical switch means for-

